A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly allowing her five children to live in fithy conditions at their home on the city's southside. Jamestown police were called 220 McKinley Avenue shortly before Noon yesterday by Child Protective Services to check on the well-being of several children. Officers say they spoke with 35 year-old Tammy Sheehan at the door... and, could smell a strong odor of feces and garbage coming from inside the home. Police say one child came to the door... while another looked out a window. They say both were dirty and had dirty clothing on... and, had small cuts to their faces. Officers were able to see inside... and, saw rotten food on the floor, feces and garbage. Police say Sheehan tried to block their entry... and, was arrested for obstruction. She was also charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Officers say the children were place with family members, and the house was condemned by the city's Department of Development.
The biggest labor union in Chautauqua County government has reached a tentative contract agreement with the county... and, it would result in pay raises in exchange for cost savings. County Executive Vince Horrigan says he is pleased with the six-year deal with CSEA Unit 6300. Horrigan outlines some of the terms of the proposed agreement. The agreement would run retroactive to 2012... and, run through 2017. Horrigan praised the work of negotiators from both sides. He thanked both negotiating teams for working out an agreement after being without a contract for three years. The union, which represents more than 900 members... has already ratified the agreement. The full County Legislature is expected to take action during their monthly meeting next week.
New York will give patients with certain serious illnesses faster access to medical marijuana as the state works out the details of its full medical cannabis program. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Wednesday that will speed up access to the drug for people facing degenerative diseases... and, the threat of serious health risks. Under the measure the state will work with regulated producers who can provide marijuana to patients as soon as possible. New York's medical marijuana program is expected to be operational in January -- a full 18 months after lawmakers approved it. People with AIDS, terminal cancers and the parents of children with severe epilepsy have long sought early access, arguing that critically ill individuals shouldn't have to wait any longer.
There was a somber gathering in downtown Jamestown late yesterday morning to commemorate the "11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month...." Two trumpters from the Jamestown High School Marching Band played Taps during this morning's observance of Veteran's Day at the corner of Third and Main Streets. The trumpters also played the National Anthem as the ceremony began. Commander Ken Furlow with the John W. Tiffany VFW Post-#53 was pleased with the turn-out... and, also urged people to support wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Past Commander Clyde Card with the Ira Lou Spring Post-#149 echoed those sentiments. Card says those veteran's organizations "function" to help local veterans. He says they need to remain strong so they can lobby for the support of Congress and other lawmakers so veteran's have the support they need. Afterwards... local veteran's and their families walked to St. Luke's Episcopal Church for it's traditional Veteran's Day Service.
The nation's veterans and active military are being honored and celebrated on Veteran's Day with a procession up New York City's Fifth Avenue. ``America's Parade'' includes marching bands, floats, veterans and military units, with a total of more than 20,000 participants. Elected officials including Mayor Bill de Blasio are also taking part. Organizers say the parade theme marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 25th anniversary of Desert Shield. The featured military branch is the U.S. Navy. This year's grand marshal is former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. He is a Navy veteran who fought in World War II. The parade is organized by the United War Veterans Council.
While Republican presidential candidates debated the issues on television Tuesday night... the front-running Democrat in the race quietly made an appearance in Western New York. A pair of Chautauqua County Democrats were on hand for the campaign appearance by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Buffalo. County Democrat Chairman Norm Green says there was a good turn-out for the fund-raiser, which cost 27-hundred dollars a person. Green says there was a lot of energy in the ballroom. Green says both he and Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi had the chance to greet Clinton... who has been to Chautauqua County a number of times. The Democrat Chairman says that's why he feels Clinton is the best choice for Chautauqua County. Green says she's actually walked the streets of Jamestown, Lakewood and elsewhere to know local issues. He says Clinton's attachment to the county began with her times at Chautauqua Institution when her husband, Bill, was president and the Governor of Arkansas. She also made several local appearances while she was a U-S Senator from New York.
Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to be in Syracuse as part of the White House's ``It's on Us'' campaign to prevent campus sexual assaults. Biden is set to speak at Syracuse University Thursday as part of the It's On Us Week of Action. Colleges across the country are holding events. The White House launched the It's On Us public awareness campaign in September 2014 with the goal of getting everyone involved in preventing campus sexual assault. Organizers say bystander intervention is an effective deterrent. Biden is a 1968 graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law.
Gasoline prices are up nationwide this week... but, are down nearly a dime in Chautauqua County. That from the Triple-A's Fuel Gauge Report... which says the price for regular, unleaded fuel is down 9-cents from about 2-dollars-50 cents last week... to about 2--41 this week. The Fuel Gauge says the average prices is based on reports from 19 local service stations. Triple-A says the national average this week is up to just over 2-dollars-21 cents per gallon. Locally... the price is about a-dollar less than it was at the same time last year. Despite the increase nationally... Triple-A says drivers are still paying about 10 cents less over last month and 72 cents over last year at this time. The Fuel Gauge Report says the volume of refinery maintenance work and unplanned outages have caused the average price to creep higher over the past weeks... yet drivers are paying the lowest average price per gallon for this date since 2006. Even with short-term regional shortages, market factors indicating a strengthening U.S. dollar should further draw crude oil prices down, as market oversupply remains front of mind.
